When the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorization scheme (ETA) begins to take effect later this year, it will cost travellers visiting the nation £10.
In October, tourists from Qatar will be able to use the ETA, which will function similarly to the current ESTA system for non-visa visitors to the US.
In February 2024, the rest of the GCC countries and Jordan will be added to the UK system, and throughout 2024, it will be made available to all travellers, including those from the US and EU nations, with the exception of Ireland.
Travellers will be able to apply for an ETA online or through a mobile app, and once approved, they will be able to visit the UK repeatedly for two years. The "set of suitability questions" and personal and biometric information, including a digital photo, will be required of applicants.
Although its implementation has been postponed until 2024, the EU is also developing a new system called as ETIAS.
The UK government claimed that the ETA system was a component of their plan to digitalize the nation's border in order to "further enhance border security and the customer experience".
"Visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan make a huge contribution to the UK's tourism industry, and the new ETA scheme will make it easier and less expensive for them to travel to the UK," said immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
"When compared to other similar worldwide systems, the price of an ETA will be among the best in the world. We will be able to strengthen the security of the UK border and maintain the safety of our communities by charging visitors a tiny additional fee.
Comparatively, a US ESTA application currently costs $21 and is good for two years. ETIAS will cost just €7 from the EU, and it can be used for up to three years.
"The UK already ranks at the bottom for international price competitiveness because of a plethora of taxes and costs like the high rates of VAT on hospitality, punishingly high Air Passenger Duty and the removal of tax-free shopping," said Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound.
Unfortunately, adding a fee for tourists to the UK will only make things worse and could become yet another barrier to the increase in foreign travel to the country.
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